Construction begins on Radford’s College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences

Radford University (RU) has begun construction on its $52.8 million College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences Building, the college announced this week. The 143,600-square-foot building, which will house several of RU’s academic departments, is scheduled to be completed in 2016.

The departments moving into the building include communications, criminal justice, psychology, sociology, political science, English, foreign languages, history, philosophy & religious studies, and the office of the dean. The departments currently are housed in seven buildings.

To make way for the new building, demolition of Lucas Hall began July 9. The 85-year-old structure most recently served as the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. The university says the new building will incorporate wood flooring salvaged from Lucas Hall.

The College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences Building will include a courtyard, a 90-seat classroom, moot courtroom with adjacent classroom, television studio, forensic laboratory and an emergency operations training center that will double as RU's emergency operations center if necessary.